This is a special group. I'm Dan -- New York -- -- ABC news digital special report. Three days after typhoon -- on first made landfall on survivors are wandering the streets of the Philippines searching for loved ones for food for water from medicine. The scope of the devastation only becoming clear in the last 24 our sports officials are now estimating the death -- could reach 101000. And with power and communication outages the norm rescue and relief efforts have become an ordeal. In and of themselves. With the latest now from tackle Matt in the southern Philippines. Here's ABC's -- Revere. The view from the air over the Philippines -- Asia's coastal villages in shreds degrees scattered -- -- Dwellings torn apart. In some areas there is simply nothing lasts -- we're getting images of the first moments one of the strongest storms make landfall came ashore. This one from Filipino broadcaster ABS so -- again. You're showing and very -- bottle of water estimated twenty feet came crashing into -- clothing. Here's another one captured by American storm chaser Jim and it's the moment Hai -- made impact. -- was flying over the top. It -- heart. And blue for hours and it didn't let up it is certainly the strongest wind I've ever been and. And one point jumping into the swimming pool to dodge the 195. Miles per hour winds. When it was all over he took pictures of the destruction. That guy. He was holding a dead girl in his arms -- about eight years old. And he was crying he said we lost ten kids here. American volunteers students Simon prison says -- damage is overwhelming that bodies all over the place. Desperate survivors seeking food and water are running out of time. The UN the Red Cross in US Marines are among those working to get food supplies and shelter to nearly 500000. People now homeless. And in the midst of -- a sign of hope. Behind me -- here in this destroyed building life goes on and there are women here having their baby. Helped by the military -- -- -- ABC news. Now of course the world is reacting with relief efforts and I want to bring in ABC's. -- Martinez -- standing by at the Pentagon -- I know I US boots on the ground in the Philippines how many are there. So far about 300 and first of wave arrived yesterday it's ninety Marines that came from Okinawa. -- will report to C 130s they had -- -- flight mission. This morning and dropped in some supplies an additional four -- sprays. These are these aircraft take off like helicopter but fly like planes makes them very helpful in situations like this. They are being flown to the Philippines. As are three additional C 130 aircraft so the effort here search and rescue but what we're seeing -- Marines propose providing the capability. But to do that what these aircraft that there's certain the search and rescue -- the focus is where but also bringing in food medicine water supplies. That's right -- for those first two quite so we talked about the that arrive in public on. What they -- is -- -- in generators. They came in -- also providing water and whatever medical supplies were needed on the ground there to the airport. The airport seems to be working well during daylight hours. I'm but the problem is getting that -- those supplies out. To be effective -- parts of the city which as -- here from Gloria is quite a significant portion of the city. That has been damaged. So this is going to be pretty persistent that pretty consistent. Operation in terms of getting US resources there. And it just remains to be seen how large it will be. Because this assessment team that he's on the ground right now in the Philippines is looking at it. And determining how much of -- US response there'll be we got word from the general who is hitting that assessment team. He told Philippine authorities that from his over flight of the region he just saw bodies everywhere the scope of this it's just. Horrific devastating. Eight and that's obvious that's -- that's the US government's response. In this kind of relief ever but what about -- private groups. Local rescue teams they had in the Philippines and I guess the bigger question is is the US government wanted to encourage that kind of response. In the yard and and it's interesting one -- -- so we're talking about these are nongovernmental organizations. That he typically -- valley care. And say the children they are making all out efforts to get from the Philippines. Nominated -- arrive with their supplies and a couple of days. But there's one in kissing her. And made up of veterans with some very important today on veterans as we talk about America those in who have served -- American military. In recent years this it is a wonder -- team rubicon on is getting particular mention from the State Department. This is -- mean a former veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Based out in Washington they have made a commitment. To go to the Philippines. To do what they can now in terms of supplies and helping out the State Department statement from secretary of state Kerry. Specifically mentions this group. The State Department saying that it's releasing funds to try to go help there and working with these Ngo partners because in some situations they are actually. Better placed. Two do you assistance patterns and then the federal government can USA ID the Agency for International Development is also. On the ground. With its own assessment of what needs to be done -- in terms of the US government response and I know that the assessment is still very preliminary but what do we know about the search and rescue efforts -- -- there's still areas. That these teens actually can't get to to simply cut off. Well part of the -- the problem is access -- -- and communications then communicate reestablishing communications networks in these affected areas I think -- going to be very important. I'm and that's where the military thinking and help out getting beyond the Havoc on area -- might be a little difficult. We are just now today getting reports about the some of the affected towns that neighbors his big city -- on the water in the Philippines. And the estimates are -- 80%. These large towns and have either been destroyed or in this one case are under water. I'm so it's -- the very difficult. I could get some of these people and you need some of these military resources in order to get there. That something of course the Filipino. That Philippine. Armed forces are very capable of they'd had. They've had this experience in the past that with storm relief but not on this scale. And that's why I think there's going to be large scale international relief effort to assist them. I'm given the the range in the scope of the damage here. It is sadly as storm obviously of this magnitude was unprecedented but -- the Philippines have dealt with these kinds of and massive natural disasters before. And we know that there -- early warnings there were early indications and forecast that the storm was approaching in the magnitude with with somewhat now. -- is there any finger pointing right now and that's going now with how Filipino officials did their best to either evacuate -- and notify the public. Seven with a storm this size there is only so much. Someone can do in fact but. Is there any kind of criticism that's been leveled. You're hearing some complaints among the general population there on the and the Philippines -- in -- -- talking about but there isn't enough. I'll think of Philippine government response there in terms of their military. I'll let you see that the efforts are under way you see how their C 130s are good landing at the air -- there the evacuating some people back to you. Not affected areas where they can get medical treatment in some cases even bringing in family members to a system but. It doesn't appear to be enough the case. Obviously -- the scope here is a very large. And selves even though they may have the experience and we talked about before with prior natural disasters -- natural storms like this. And might be a little too much for them to handle which is why international assistance would be -- very good thing. One other thing to note here is that -- the in the days of right after the storm hit. You may recall that there were some comments that the Philippine government had actually done a very good job in alerting its population so that people would move away from affected areas. But that was prior to the real story coming out but in the lead up to it -- the assessment was that the Philippine government have been very good job of notifying its own people. And in conducting evacuation procedures but obviously this storm just proved to be much bigger. And could've been handled. -- much bigger and obviously given the fact that there is an international coalition and -- and response that did. Do we have any idea as far as the cost of this storm that as far as of assessment. Of making a kind of recovery. I haven't seen anything obviously -- needs such -- always goes straight to the billions. The -- level I think first you have to. Figure out how much damage -- really has been on the ground and what the long term effects are going to be -- the aerial footage ever seen and it just overwhelming. You see just that total devastation of tighter neighborhoods and you got to think about the infrastructure that goes in -- -- never has and -- that so that. As well as communication networks need to be reestablished so -- this is going to be a long term effort so there might be an initial assessment in terms of the well how much this is all going to cost and the Philippine government. But what's really going to be significant is the long term impact. And that could take some time to determine how much -- the costs will be there the effort just now beginning ABC's than Martinez the Pentagon -- thank you for that. Of course for all the latest from the Philippines the wake of this catastrophic -- stay with mystery here at abcnews.com. I'm Dan cuts -- New York with this ABC news digital special report.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

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